Invisible Universe hires former Spin Master exec to head up licensing

Shane Mang will spearhead consumer products strategy and programs for the studio’s suite of IPs, including Serena Williams’ Qai Qai and TikTok personality Ember.
January 11, 2023

LA’s Invisible Universe has brought in Shane Mang, Spin Master’s former director of global sales and outbound licensing, as its first head of licensing.

Mang is tasked with developing and launching new consumer products programs for the web-first animation company’s roster of entertainment brands, with an immediate focus on Serena Williams’ Qai Qai—Invisible Universe’s first and most established IP—and upstart TikTok personality Ember. Mang started in his new role last month, reporting to CEO and co-founder Tricia Biggio.

His appointment comes during a period of strategic growth at the company. In licensing, social media phenomenon Qai Qai has already expanded into toys, publishing and NFTs after amassing more than five million followers/subscribers on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter. And in content, the franchise boasts a collection of YouTube shorts (Qai Qai’s Nursery Rhyme Remix), and a TV series is in development.

Mang will work closely with former Nickelodeon exec Nerissa Holder Hall, who recently joined (in September) Invisible Universe as head of franchise. Though Hall’s remit includes driving the commercialization of the company’s IPs in consumer products, she will focus more on commercializing series and movie content, Mang tells Kidscreen.

“Hall is a true expert when it comes to developing and managing franchises, but more from a content perspective,” says Mang. “My role is to ensure that our franchises are developed with a consumer products mindset.”

Mang has ID’d tween-targeting TikTok personality Little Devil Ember as ripe for expansion. Created in partnership with Grammy, Tony and Oscar-winning songwriting duo Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, the comedic character is an animated heiress to the underworld who comes to Earth to show her dad how to create chaos there.

“Little Devil Ember has more than a million followers on TikTok alone, so it will also be an immediate priority,” says Mang. Invisible Universe is currently incubating the original IP with input from fans feeding back in real time from short-form storytelling on TikTok, but the plan is to move the brand into publishing, long-form content and other licensing categories in 2023.

To date, the company’s IPs—which also include Jennifer Aniston’s Clydeo (the “cousin” to her real-life dog Clyde) and Squeaky and Roy from TikTok influencers/sisters Charli and Dixie D’Amelio—have amassed more than 10 million collective followers across all social media platforms.

Several other brands in development will also be released throughout the year, according to Mang, who will be at Kidscreen Summit next month with Biggio to meet with toycos, publishers, broadcasters and content creators.

Prior to joining Invisible Universe, Mang served as director of global sales and outbound licensing at Canadian toyco Spin Master, where he worked on licensing programs for top global franchises including PAW Patrol and Bakugan. He has also held senior executive roles at The Jim Henson Company (overseeing L&M for franchises such as Fraggle Rock and Dark Crystal), as well as DHX Media (now WildBrain) and Nerd Corps Entertainment.

About The Author
Jeremy is the Features Editor of Kidscreen specializing in the content production, broadcasting and distribution aspects of the global children's entertainment industry. Contact Jeremy at jdickson@brunico.com.

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